Posted on Sunday, 26th July 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Still remember my capacitors break-in session? After passing a long 150 hours break-in time, today, I add another session with XLO Test Disc, track #9 “System Burn-In”. I repeat the track for around 3 hours.

Actually, I don’t recommend to use this kind of track to break-in an audio system. A normal break-in with various tracks is still preferred. That’s why, I only use this track after 150 hours normal break-in session with various tracks. I will add another 50-100 hours break-in session with various tracks to make sure all those capacitors are completely break-in. Especially for Teflon based VCap which usually loves longer break-in time.

FYI, my standard break-in session with various tracks will use standard pre/amplifier and completely fed to my DIY speakers. I don’t use dummy load on my amplifier or put the capacitor under PSU jig (some use PSU jig with dummy load to break in the capacitor).

Why I don’t do that? This is my own personal preference, YMMV.

First, if you use dummy load on the amplifier, I think, this is not a real world condition. Dummy load is a fix load, while your speaker is not a fix impedance across frequency spectrum (and will send various load to your amplifier).

Second, putting your capacitor under PSU jig (with dummy load) also will not put your capacitor under real world condition. Yes, capacitor will be loaded with AC signal (both in real amplifier or under PSU jig), but the frequency itself is different. Under PSU jig, you only load the capacitor with specific AC frequency (let’s say 50 Hz?) and specific AC load (let’s say 12 VAC?). While in the real world, capacitor will face different AC frequency and different AC load, depends on the signal loaded from the signal source.

Natural and real world condition are the best to break-in your system!

That’s why, the best break-in rig is under your own system – place where you will put the capacitor for the rest of its life

Tags: Break-In, Capacitor
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (5)

Posted on Monday, 13th July 2009 by Auw Jimmy

It’s been awhile since my last mod of Toshiba SD-2960 DVD Player here, here, and here. Now, it’s time for more fun. I plan to reclock the DVD Player with TentLabs XO2 reclock module.

The first and most tempting job is to find the servo processor pin out which connected to the original oscillator.

Here is the “poor’s man x-ray” photo Well, it’s not a real x-ray actually. I just take a picture with strong light (you can use light/LED torch) on the other side of the PCB. By doing this, we will be able to see the lines on the PCB. The PCB is two layer through hole. So it may have connection both on the top and bottom side.

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Tags: DVD, Reclock, TentLabs
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (1)

Posted on Thursday, 9th July 2009 by Auw Jimmy

After several weeks of waiting, today I receive my most awaited rectifier, the Telefunken RGN 1054. This rectifier rated at 75mA and 300Volt. More than enough to drive my Aikido. I love the mesh plate rectifier

Also, this is my first post with new layout of my blog (only a matter of the width). From maximum 600 pixels width, now expanded to 835 pixels width. More beautiful picture here!!!

For your reference only, the age of this tube probably over 60-70 years old!

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Tags: rectifier, RGN
Posted in Collectible Stuff | Comments (3)

Posted on Sunday, 5th July 2009 by Auw Jimmy

After over 2 month of laziness, finally I finish the tiring job, soldering 60 pcs of Black Gate F Series for my Gainclone Power Supply.

Well, practically, this is not only for Gainclone. The design will be quite modular, as described below:

• Dual rail design, for positive and negative
• Each filtered with 30 pcs Black Gate F Series 680uF/65V (around 20.400uF total capacitance each rail)
• Choke Input Design
• Main rectifier is 4xMUR860 (600V, 8A)
• Snubberized Design with Mills Resistor and Russian PIO/Teflon Capacitor

With 65V working voltage of the capacitor, this modular power supply could be use for many purpose. Let’s say, a MOSFET project?

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Tags: Black Gate, power supply
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (16)

Posted on Saturday, 4th July 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Still remember the extreme capacitors battle? Well, we need to break-in those capacitors first for a fair judgement. So here it is. I don’t have much time to break-in those capacitors. Around 2-3 hours/night for next 2-3 weeks. I think this should be fine

All those capacitors stacked together:

• Duelund CAST 1uF/630V
• VCap 0.47uF/600V
• Jensen Copper Foil 0.47uF/630V
• Jensen Copper Foil Paper Tube 0.47uF/630V
• Mundorf Silver/Gold/Oil 0.47uF/1200V
• Mundorf Silver/Gold/Oil 1uF/1200V

All soldered together with WBT Silver Solder, connected to my Aikido via Silver Teflon interconnect. I use white cable heat shrink to cover all the leads (and for safety reason). This leads carry half of B+ or around 130VDC. Enough to shock you if touched.

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Tags: Aikido, Break-In, Duelund, jensen, mundorf, VCap
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (14)